Michael Pearson on the Carryduff Forklifts/Boost Drinks Yamaha Superbike, produced a dazzling display on his first visit to the Killalane Road Races in North County Dublin, with Pearson finishing ninth in the Senior Open Race, and then a superb seventh in the Country Crest Grand Final.
Having only seen the circuit for a first time on Saturday, Pearson studied video footage of the circuit prior to commencing practice on Saturday afternoon, in which he later went out and qualified in tenth place for the Open Senior Race.
In Sunday's race meeting, the organisers cut each race from seven to five laps because of forecasted poor weather later in the day, a decision that would prove to be the correct one.
In the Open Senior Race, Pearson found himself in fifth place on the road behind Keith Amor, Ryan Farquhar, Adrian Archibald, and John Burrows, with Michael continuing his fifth place on the road position after lap three.
On lap four, Michael was passed by the Dunlop brothers Michael and William, but had to give way to Kilkenny's John Walsh on the final circuit to finish in eighth place on the road, and ninth on corrected time, after Michael suffered arm pump on the final two circuits.
In the Grand Final race, again over five laps, Pearson again got a flying start and completed lap one in 5th place just behind Adrian Archibald. Michael continued his steady progress until the final circuit again, when he encountered a chain problem on his CF/Boost Drinks R1 Yamaha, that would eventually see the Ballygowan rider slip to seventh place at the chequered flag.
"Today was very satisfying. I came here this weekend as a rookie, and only got five laps of practice on Saturday evening. I had settled in my mind that if I could finish in the top ten in at least one race, that I would be well pleased," said Pearson.
To come away with a ninth and a seventh place finish in both Superbike races is really pleasing. It was tough going out there with all the boys really going hard, and their knowledge of the circuit was a big big plus over us.
In the first race I suffered from some arm pump and struggled on the last two laps, while in the Grand Final, the chain on my bike started to jump the rear sprocket and I can honestly say that I lost two places in the race and could have, and should have, finished in fifth.
"I liked the circuit alot, but it is a very difficult circuit to pass on, and very fast into the bargain. This weekend has set us up nicely for next weekends Scarborough Gold Cup in North Yorkshire were I will again be aiming for a podium finish."
